Scott Lawton fell short in his attempt to win the vacant European super-featherweight title tonight as he was stopped inside three rounds by Leva Kirakosyan. Lawton, whose record features defeats against Amir Khan and John Murray, had landed the title shot unexpectedly and was out of his depth against the France-based Armenian Kirakosyan at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke.

Lawton was floored inside the opening minute by a right hand from Kirakosyan but recovered to see out the first round. However, Kirakosyan's sharp shot selection was proving problematic and a left hook seriously wobbled Lawton at the end of the second round, prompting an unorthodox standing eight count by the referee Soren Saugmann.

Even with a minute to recover between rounds, Lawton was still shaky as the third got under way and, sensing the end, Kirakosyan methodically took apart the popular Stoke man with a steady stream of largely unanswered blows.

The assault culminated in a crushing left hand that left referee with little option but to wave it off 21 seconds into the round.

"We knew the dangers," Lawton said. "We knew he was a big hitter but I let one get through and that was the end really. I've achieved a lot in the sport and don't know if there's anywhere else for me to go, really. I'll have to just see."